Electrospun Polymer-Fiber Solar Cell

Authors

Shinobu Nagata, Virginia Commonwealth University
Gary M. Atkinson, Virginia Commonwealth University
Dmitry Pestov, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow
Gary C. Tepper, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow
James T. McLeskey Jr., Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2013

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering

Volume

2013

Issue

Article ID 975947, 6 pages

DOI of Original Publication

10.1155/2013/975947

Comments

Originally published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/975947.

Date of Submission

August 2014

Abstract

A novel electrospun polymer-fiber solar cell was synthesized by electrospinning a 1 : 2.5 weight% ratio mixture of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and [6,6]-phenyl C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) resulting in bulk heterojunctions. Electrospinning is introduced as a technique that may increase polymer solar cell efficiency, and a list of advantages of the technique applied to solar cells is discussed. The device achieved a power conversion efficiency of η = 3.08 x 10^-7%. The absorption and photoluminescence of MEH-PPV nanofibers are compared to thin films of the same material. Electrospun nanofibers are discussed as a favorable structure for application in polymer solar cells.

Rights

Copyright © 2013 Shinobu Nagata et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Is Part Of

VCU Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Publications